In 2006 Kimpton Vale Ltd moved in bulldozers overnight and illegally demolished a 19th century convent building on Terenure Road West. The developer was fined a paltry 1,000 euro at the District Court. Now Kimpton Vale have secured planning permission to build on the site. The people who destroyed this beautiful and historic building should now have no right to develop on it. I will be making an observation to An Bord Pleanala and liaising with local residents’ associations over this flagrant disregard for the the public, historic and aesthetic interest.
In 2005 millionaire businessman Noel O’Gara was allowed to purchase Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh. He then locked the gates, planning to turn this green space into a car park, creche and gym. Since then, residents have reclaimed Dartmouth Square, but the Council have failed to fully complete a Compulsory Purchase Order to bring it into unequivocally into public ownership. Public access to the park must be preserved against any further attempts to concrete it for profit.
